Do Not Swim at This Jersey Shore Beach

Do Not Swim at This Jersey Shore Beach

The state Department of Environmental Protection said Tuesday that high levels of germs have prompted a swimming advisory for a bay beach in Seaside Heights.

Due to the findings of Monday's water survey, which revealed 430 colonies of Enterococci bacteria per 100 milliliters of water, the beach at Hancock Avenue on Barnegat Bay is under an advisory.

According to the NJDEP's beaches website, NJBeaches.org, a swimming advisory is issued for New Jersey beaches when the bacterial count above 104 colonies per 100 milliliters of sample.

Swim advisories are issued in the area for any initial sample that is found to be above the water quality threshold. Beach closures occur when two consecutive samples are above the limit.

Stormwater runoff, sewage released or discarded from recreational boats, and domestic animal and wildlife feces are all sources of Enterococci in water. Swimming in polluted water can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, runny nose, earaches skin rashes and flu-like symptoms.

Dr. Edward Liu, chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, stated that Enterococcus bacteria, which are often found in the human intestine and urinary system, are the cause of enterococcal infections.

As a result of breaches in the body's natural defenses, such as the skin or bowel, these bacteria can spread to other parts of the body and cause illnesses.

Depending on the location of the infection, enterococcal infections can present with a variety of symptoms.

Urinary burning and frequency are possible symptoms if it's in the urinary system. If enterococcus is in the bloodstream you can have sepsis.

You may experience diarrhea and abdominal pain if enterococcus is the cause of diverticulitis or colitis. Liu stated that enterococcus can be somewhat infectious.